Choo! Choo! Train Chugs in With Santa Saturday at Santa House
|
||||||||||
| Printer Friendly Story View |
Mary Ida Doan exudes the spirit of Christmas in Bay City's fabulous Santa House, opening Saturday at 6 p.m.
After seven and a half decades as the East Michigan Tourist Association and a city storage facility, the old log building glows with new life.
It's Santa House! Situated at the west end of Veterans Memorial Park, just south of the Community Center pool, the old tourist center now welcomes thousands of kids every Christmas season.
And on Saturday, Nov. 27, at 6 p.m., Santa will arrive by train to delight youngsters and oldsters alike, says Mary Ida Doan, founder, doyen and mistress of ceremonies of the project.
Cap Pinkerton, Bay Cityan and owner of the Central Michigan Railway, started the tradition a few years ago and it is being carried on by RailAmerica, Inc., new owners of the rail line, she said.
Santa House will be open weekdays 6-9 p.m. and 1-4 and 6-9 p.m. on weekends. Mrs. Doan expects 8-9,000 visitors over three weeks to the closing on Dec. 22.
"People come from all over," said Mrs. Doan. "They love to come here and have their pictures taken with Santa, especially people from foreign countries who send the pictures home so their friends can see how the United States celebrates Christmas."
There are two doors so a flow of visitors can keep moving. "You can spend as much time as you want in Santa House," she said. There's plenty to see. Outside the building is an oldtime mailbox where kids can mail letters to Santa. There's a "good book" and a "bad book" where kids names are supposedly listed. Santa's keys to everyone's home are on a desk.
The 1,600 square foot building was erected at Fifth and Adams in 1924 as the home of the East Michigan Tourist Association. In 1952 it was moved to make way for the Woolworth five and dime store and was situated in Wenonah Park where the city used it for storage and Fraternal Order of Police meetings.
As park improvements progressed, the building was moved to Vets Park and in 2000 was dropped onto a concrete pad and renovated for Santa House. The non-profit charitable association leases the building from the city for $1 a year.
Mrs. Doan is carrying on the tradition she followed with her late husband, Nate, who played Santa for 54 years and ran a Santa school. This would have been her 46th year playing Mrs. Claus, but she has "retired," spending her time running the Santa House operation instead. The log buildingis jammed with an incredible variety of toys, displays, moving dioramas and colorful Christmas-related items.
Two miniature trains, one overhead, rattle around.
Elves sleep in tiny beds, their stomachs rising and falling in simulation of slumber, and a snoring machine adds even more realism.
A gas fireplace crackles in the corner.
In Santa's Kitchen elves stir up sugar and eggs for cookies; water runs from a circulating pump for dish washing.
Mrs. Doan's favorite display is a group of penguins fishing on the ice. "It's really pretty at night with the blue lights," she exclaimed.
For the first 10 days, live reindeer will be in the cage adjoining Santa House, adding a touch of realism. Kids can feed the animals, she said.
Santa House volunteers work all year to get ready for the month before Christmas. Funds are raised with pancake breakfasts, spaghetti dinners, the Pig Gig, Celebrity Cookoff, River Roar and selling Christmas books like "The Bird in Santa's Beard."
" When Santa walks in the door we're ready to go. It's a lot of fun and it sure does get you in the Christmas spirit," she concluded.
For more information please see www.Santahouse.com.###
Santa House Photo - One day Before 2004 Thanksgiving Snowstorm
| Printer Friendly Story View |
|
|
Dave Rogers |
|
|
|
Printer-Friendly Story View
0200 Nd: 04-13-2024 d 4 cpr 0
12/31/2020 P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm
SPONSORED LINKS
12/31/2020 drop ads P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm